Ways to gain weight

[princess.sparrow]

Due to a particularly nasty flare, I am currently losing weight, despite efforts at increasing proteins and healthy fats in my diet. I was wondering if, aside from also adding Ensure or Boost, there are any sorts of food or meal ideas I could use to start putting weight back on that would not irritate my Crohn's disease. I am 12 pounds underweight, and looking to gain every pound of that back!

Many thanks!

 

[Mountaingem]

I really like whey protein shakes for this. Ensure and Boost make me vomit on a goody day; I have no idea why, too much sugar is my theory. The whey protein helps keep your muscles strong and the protein helps with healing.

Also, you can add coconut oil from Spectrum organics, you add a tablespoon to the shakes. It doesn't cause me any digestive distress and it adds calories as well as good fats that help reduce inflammation.

Try eating five or six smaller meals; I know this is recommended for weight loss too, but I find it's easier on the tummy than trying to eat 3 large meals. Of course if you go on pred gaining weight is a piece of cake (no pun intended). :ylol:

Best wishes!

 

[jane16]

Weight gaining is easy than weight loosing. Weight gaining can be achieve by eating healthy food. Don't eat junk food. Eat oily food because oily food is the reason for weight gaining. Eat fruits and vegetables more.







______________________________

 

[shmo]

Weight gaining is easy than weight loosing. .

Umm, no. That is a big fat no for a lot of people with Crohn's...


I posted a recipe in the Cooking forum which I've been using for weight gain.

http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=37495

I just had a bad flare up and lost 25 pounds. Having this almost every morning is both delicious and great for gaining weight. Especially if you fry the finished product in coconut oil, butter, or even bacon fat if you have to

Edit: I've gained about a pound a week since starting my days with this recipe.

 

[hugh]

Due to a particularly nasty flare, I am currently losing weight, despite efforts at increasing proteins and healthy fats in my diet. I was wondering if, aside from also adding , there are any sorts of food or meal ideas I could use to start putting weight back on that would not irritate my Crohn's disease. I am 12 pounds underweight, and looking to gain every pound of that back!

It doesn't matter how much you eat if you can't digest and absorb it.
Carbs are probably causing (or feeding) most of your illness
I dropped from 66 to 55kg despite eating 5 meals a day plus snacks.

It wasn't until i cut out almost everything that i started gaining weight.

Ensure and Boost.......
Water Sugar, Corn syrup, maltodextrin
The water is good for you, the sugars? Just feeding the bad bacteria in your gut

I don't know what will work for you but i'd be trying unprocessed REAL foods

To my mind, healthy fats are natural unprocessed ones - animal fats, olive oil, avocado - maybe coconut oil and ghee.

 

[kiny]

Water Sugar, Corn syrup, maltodextrin
The water is good for you, the sugars? Just feeding the bad bacteria in your gut

Maltodextrin is often found in probiotics believe it or not.

http://www.doctorslounge.com/index.php/news/pb/29236

Maltodextrin, a polysaccharide found in artificial sweeteners such as Splenda and Equal, causes bacteria from the guts of Crohn's disease patients to more easily form biofilms that are stickier and more adherent, according to a study presented at the annual Digestive Disease Week, held from May 19 to 22 in San Diego.

"Our findings demonstrate that a ubiquitous component of Western diets strongly promotes pathogenic phenotypes in Crohn's disease-associated bacterial strains, suggesting a mechanism by which environmental and bacterial Crohn's disease risk factors cooperate to promote disease," Nickerson and McDonald conclude.

 

[kiny]

Weight gaining is easy than weight loosing.

Weight gaining was so much harder than losing weight for me. I'm between an ectomorph and endomorph and it took me 2 months to lose weight thanks to this stupid disease, gaining the weight back on took me over a year.

 

[crohnsmother]

My daughter is 13 yrs old and just returned from a dr appt. She feels if she does not gain weight (and thus grow and start puberty) she will need surgery to remove a stricture very soon. I try to stick with nutritional-crohns friendly foods, not just empty calories. Any suggestions?
I wasn't sure how to create a new link....

 

[KWalker]

Weight gaining was so much harder than losing weight for me. I'm between an ectomorph and endomorph and it took me 2 months to lose weight thanks to this stupid disease, gaining the weight back on took me over a year.

For a lot of people. I bet lots of people would say losing is easier.

 

[Charleigh]

We are finding that gaining weight, especially on a low carb/low sugar diet is extremely difficult.

Can you tolerate nut butters? If so, that packs a great amount of fat and calories! Also fruit ~ if you can tolerate fruit, it holds more calories than veggies! What about full fat organic yogurt?

:ghug: It is difficult

 

[UnXmas]

For a lot of people. I bet lots of people would say losing is easier.

I always think losing must be easier than gaining, since problems with your digestive tract can limit the amount of food you're physically able to consume/digest, whereas you can always eat less if you're trying to lose. Unless you have an eating disorder where you're compelled to eat, perhaps.

I've increased the amount I'm eating a lot lately, because I need to get my weight up in preparation for an operation. I'm drinking a lot of full fat milk. I feel so full sometimes, but the weight's still not going on.

 

[Danico85]

if you want to gain weight quickly then forget all this "coconut oil" and "fruit" nonsence. You eat junk food like mcdonalds, chinese foods, indian foods (if your stomach can handle it). And eat lots of it. I lost 3 stone in weight when i was at my worst and my consultant told me the best way for me to put on weight is to eat JUNK FOOD, CHOCOLATE, SWEETS, CRISPS etc.

It will work, trust me. I put 3 stone back on in under 6 months lol

 

[KWalker]

That's exactly what I think UnXmas. Putting more food into our mouths isn't going to do anything if we don't digest/absorb the nutrients properly. For 'normal' people it may be easier to increase their calories but for us we have to do more than just eat more.

There's a big difference between eating more and eating healthy.

 

[KWalker]

if you want to gain weight quickly then forget all this "coconut oil" and "fruit" nonsence. You eat junk food like mcdonalds, chinese foods, indian foods (if your stomach can handle it). And eat lots of it. I lost 3 stone in weight when i was at my worst and my consultant told me the best way for me to put on weight is to eat JUNK FOOD, CHOCOLATE, SWEETS, CRISPS etc.

It will work, trust me. I put 3 stone back on in under 6 months lol

I would find a new consultant.

 

[UnXmas]

if you want to gain weight quickly then forget all this "coconut oil" and "fruit" nonsence. You eat junk food like mcdonalds, chinese foods, indian foods (if your stomach can handle it). And eat lots of it. I lost 3 stone in weight when i was at my worst and my consultant told me the best way for me to put on weight is to eat JUNK FOOD, CHOCOLATE, SWEETS, CRISPS etc.

It will work, trust me. I put 3 stone back on in under 6 months lol

I eat a lot of junk. Not MacDonalds or take out because I don't like it and it's too filling, but I snack on things like biscuits and cakes, and when I feel ill I eat a lot of ice cream and custard and things like that if I can't face a meal. It's just that I can only manage small portions so it still doesn't make me gain.

 

[Grant]

I lost 10lb because of surgery & flaring, a few weeks later I was eating for Britain but not a lb would go on until I started taking one Actimel Probiotic daily. It helped me absorb nutrition & the weight went back on steadily.
Rgds
Grant

 

[Danico85]

I would find a new consultant.

it might not work for you but it did work for me.

 

[KWalker]

Oh I have no doubt it didn't work, and it would probably work for most people but its certainly not a healthy way to gain weight for anybody

 

[EthanPSU]

Do not eat junk food to gain weight, sure you will gain weight but you are killing your health.

 

[UnXmas]

I think it's fine to eat some junk food - especially when gaining weight is the main priority. As long as it's in moderation and you make sure you get the healthy stuff in too.

I think trying to gain weight without eating sugar would be impossible for me. In fact I tried to do that years ago, on the advice of alternative nutritionists. I gave up all "junk" and lost so much weight I got really sick, and I was so full all the time because I was limited to low calorie foods like veg, fish, etc. All the fibre hurt my digestive system.

Now I eat a far more balanced diet, and it's much better.

 

[Ihurt]

I think eating healthy is important and that junk food is not good for anyone, but now and then it is ok. I have a friend who has really bad gastroparesis and she can hardly eat at all, especially fruits or vegis or meat, they are complete no-no's for her. She has lost a ton of weight. Her doctor also told her to eat whatever she can tolerate at this point, even if it is pudding or ice cream, whatever! Her doctor said it is so important that she put some weight on. Her diet is usually a few spoonfuls of rice a day and maybe some crackers, that is about it. When you are up against the wall sometimes you do what you gotta do, even if it is not the healthiest thing. I mean once you get better in a state where you can tolerate more, then you back off all the junk. That is just my two cents.

 

[UnXmas]

I think eating healthy is important and that junk food is not good for anyone, but now and then it is ok. I have a friend who has really bad gastroparesis and she can hardly eat at all, especially fruits or vegis or meat, they are complete no-no's for her. She has lost a ton of weight. Her doctor also told her to eat whatever she can tolerate at this point, even if it is pudding or ice cream, whatever! Her doctor said it is so important that she put some weight on. Her diet is usually a few spoonfuls of rice a day and maybe some crackers, that is about it. When you are up against the wall sometimes you do what you gotta do, even if it is not the healthiest thing. I mean once you get better in a state where you can tolerate more, then you back off all the junk. That is just my two cents.

I think that doctor's advice is correct. My weight is so low now that it has to be my priority - it's far more likely to do me harm than eating sugar, unheathy fats or refined food. When you're feeling sick, it's much easier to get down some ice cream than a plate of fish and veg. And when you need to put on weight but have a limited appetite, you'll benefit more from filling up on some cake or biscuits than from a salad.

It does amaze me sometimes how some people say they only eat healthy foods, and describe diets limited to veg, fruit and lean protein. I don't understand how people manage to keep their weights healthy on that. For a short time, maybe, when losing weight, but surely long term you'd never be able to get enough calories in. I seem to spend all my time eating - a lot it high calorie foods - and the weight just won't go on.